Originally Posted by
PDR1
Is this a "new" rule? When I was an air cadet in the 70s you could put down for flying (power or gliding) from the date you officially joined (at a minimum age of 13yrs, 9months IIRC). I've just checked my Form3822 and saw that my first gliding flight was in a T31 at Tangmere two weeks shy of my 14th birthday, and my first powered flight was in a Chipmunk at Abingdon about six weeks after that. I did my PPL via a flying scholarship at Biggen Hill three months after my 18th birthday, in the summer holiday between A-levels and Uni.
When did the 16yr age limit for flying come in?
PDR
In the '70s, it was the minimum age for commencing a Gliding Proficiency course. When this was re-named 'Basic Gliding Training' in the '80s, another course called 'Initial Gliding Training' for 15 year olds was introduced, the main difference being you couldn't fly solo until you were 16.
It's all changed again since then after I was 'retired'.